Who's Got Their Xmas Tree Up Already?

I love Christmas but the putting up of the decorations I absolutely hate and it happens today. Off out after lunch to get the tree which is fine and then within 5 minutes of getting home, the wife and I will argue about something and not talk to each other for the rest of the day. My kids still believe which is great although one (9 years old) is questioning it a bit more now so reckon it will be the last year for Father Christmas which I will really miss.
What I certainly don't miss from my 20's and early 30's is going out Christmas Eve (always a great night) but feeling absolutely terrible during Christmas Day. These days it just a couple Christmas Eve and even Christmas Day is not a great deal of alcohol. I've never been much of a drinker at home and have always preferred the pub despite the obvious price difference

 

Not true. The planting of christmas trees is good for the environment. Each cut tree has spent an average of ten years storing carbon, capturing pollution and releasing oxygen. as well as soaking up solar energy. The commercial production obviously then takes away those benefits. but overall the growing of Christmas trees is environmentally positive. If the tree is recycled for compost, rather than burnt.

The bulk of plastic trees are imported, probably from China, enlarging their carbon footprint.
http://www.carbontrust.com/about-us/press/2013/01/christmas-tree-disposal-advice

says:-
"A real pine or fir tree naturally absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen.”
“The Carbon Trust estimates that a 2-metre artificial tree has a carbon footprint around 40kg CO2e, ... more than ten times that of real trees that are burnt.”

I saw the first Christmas tree in Watford 28 November, and in London two weeks earlier than that. mine (grown in a pot and brought in each year) left the garden on 7th December. Two weeks earlier than normal; but the (26 year old) daughter was visiting and wanted to put the lights up.

 

I thought it was odd that Ikea (Wembley) were selling them. The deal, yesterday, was buy a tree for £25 and get a £20 Ikea voucher...

 

My first christmas with a baby, but he is only 2 months old so I haven't asked for his input decorating the tree. Babies are a bit daft

We have a 1.5m plastic tree that has a huge Santa hat on the top of it

 

Congratulations Potguy! Life completely changes when you have a 1.5m plastic tree in your life.

 

Yeah. It looked painful coming out too